The title track of her latest album climbed atop Billboard’s Hot 100 today, forcing Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” into second place, and became the original American Idol’s third number one single. (She formerly reached the Hot 100 summit in 2002 with “A Moment Like This” and in 2009 with “My Life Would Suck Without You.”)

But there was more at play here than just a great rendition of the anthem. For starters, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” is a terrific song (certainly a more memorable track than lead single “Mr. Know It All”) that falls right into Kelly Clarkson’s wheelhouse: poppy post-breakup empowerment anthems. It was destined to climb the chart – although probably a bit more slowly if she hadn’t opened the Super Bowl and gotten key placement in a certain Toyota ad…

You know the one I’m talking about. The Camry ad which has celebrity test-drivers alongside Clarkson belting “Stronger” when it comes on the radio. The commercial has been running in high rotation for the past month, undoubtedly boosting the song’s profile.

Whatever the reason for the song’s success, we’re happy to see Kelly on top of the chart. She and Adele are a welcome antidote to the auto-tuned Ibiza-sonics that can sometimes feel inescapable on the Hot 100.

The Super Bowl’s other diva performer, Madonna, debuted at a highly respectable number 13 with her single “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” – and preorders on her upcoming MDNA and her greatest-hits collection Celebration both received major post-Bowl boosts on iTunes, taking the no. 1 and no. 3 album spots, respectively.